Masters Class: Child’s Play

In 1988 MGM released a supernatural movie to the horror genre that would forever change the landscape of horror movies, and the way we look at dolls. Child’s Play introduced us to a new type of nightmare, a child’s doll possessed by an infamous serial killer who transferred his soul into the toy before he died. 

The movie spawned a cult following along with several sequels, a reboot, and two seasons of a episodic television series. The main star of the franchise, Chucky the doll, has had a longevity in his popularity that transcended over into other entertainment mediums, including most recently several appearances on WWE’s NXT programming. 

While Child’s Play is often looked at as a comedic parody of horror with entries like Seed of Chucky and Cult of Chucky, the franchise has never failed to keep its finger on the pulse of current events and the overall climate of societal hot topics. 

As well as the franchises continued success, it has also enjoyed a wide variety of popular action figures. And being as Hecktober has been all about the horror figure photography, it is only fitting the Masters Class closes out its month of horror themed Masters Class collabs with everyone’s favorite mass murdering good guy doll. 

To do that I’ve enlisted the help of @h.c._yellowjacket and @mikey_tv_707806 to bring the voodoo and break down their epic Child’s Play action figure photography. 

So find your seats, and beg for the power, because class is now in session. 

The Child’s Play movie franchise has lead to many action figure iterations of out favorite possessed doll. What versions have you enjoyed shooting the most for your photography?

HC- “So far I’ve been enjoying the Neca Child’s Play Ultimates Chucky and the Mezco Talking Chucky, definitely worth the price! I have also have the Neca 2 pack with Tiffany but have yet to open them up.”

MV- “I like the traditional childs play 1-3 chucky hybrid figure. It was when the series was at its most horror as opposed to the comedic gem it became with Bride and seed of chucky.”

Dark shadows, surprise attacks, low lighting, and ominous scenery have all played a major role in delivering the scares in the Child’s Play franchise. What are some tips and tricks you can offer to translate those cinematic feels into an action figure photography shot?

HC- “Usually I set the ISO on my camera to 200 or less and just play around with the cheap lights I use. I usually get them from dollar tree, dollar stores, Walmart or Amazon. I don’t use a tripod for the camera so it’s just usually holding a light in one hand and the camera in the other and just moving both around and seeing what comes out.”

MV- “Basically you can just get any form of light circle square or fancy light. But it all just tends to go with a lower lighting facing upwards just under the figure to give you all that ominous camp scary story flash light shadowing, well in my opinion anyhow.”

When shooting a horror shot, in this instance Chucky, what are some additional pieces aside from the figures you like to include to set the mood of the shot? (ie props, dio pieces, etc)

HC- “Neca always has some incredible props and accessories and they can help build up a scene. Doll house furniture is also something I use along with some scrapbook paper you can find at hobby lobby, Walmart or any crafts store. Just tape it to a box and your good to go.”

MV- “I like to add furniture tables ,couches, chairs ,shelves in such and add like small pieces like beer bottles, hellraiser puzzle boxes , phantasm silver balls, skulls just a hodge podge of stuff lying around that you'd see in any collectors houses just scaled down a bit. Buy figures poach accessories is what I do not saying that's what everybody should do, I mean you could make dio pieces if ya want.”

The Child’s Play franchise has spanned over 30 years with many versions of Chucky and his cast of supporting characters with varying levels of success in movies, and most recently a tv series. Of the 8 films and two seasons of the series, which is your favorite, and which do you dislike the most?

HC- “As a kid growing up in the 80’s the first 2 movies traumatized me and I hated dolls for a while. I even remember throwing my sisters dolls in the closet because they gave me the creeps. Seed of Chucky is probably my least favorite one.”

MV- “I really like the 3rd entry into childs play, the scene at military school where they're going out to paint ball war but chucky replaced paint cartridges with actual live rounds was great plus the line "What do ya know , chucky gonna be a bro!" It's so deviously offensive it's hilarious. The least favorite entry(entries) are the cult and curse of chucky holy crap what horse crap and such low budget stuff. How ever I do enjoy the show what Syfy channel is allowing to air is great uncensored language and gore. But Jennifer Tilly is so unnecessary to the show. Just give me chucky talking crap and killing people.”

For 34 years Chucky has been one of the biggest icons in the horror genre, in your opinion, what is it about Jason that gives him such longevity in producing fear in the hearts and minds of the audience?

HC- “I think it’s just Brad Dourif. The performance he gave back then was magic in a bottle and it’s just kinda heartwarming when you hear his laugh and his screams. It’s funny because he’s now a “baby face” more than “heel”. “

MV- “think the longevity is based on the fact we all has humans have Dark violent urges to commit animalistic atrocities and violence towards people at times, but instead of harming ourselves or others we use the escapism of horror to divulge the dark with in us all…or people are just like me and a little weird in sociopathic and see ourselves in Jason or freddy or chucky ect.”

Is there any figures from the Child’s Play franchise or any versions of Chucky himself that have not been produced yet that you’d like to see made?

HC- “Definitely a burnt up Chucky or a pre Doll Tiffany from Neca would be awesome.”

MV- “I would love a neca ultimate Sh*t Face glen/Glenda figure. They have Tiffany I just don't own her and maybe make a Charles Lee ray pre-chucky transformation ultimate figure.”

(Extra credit question) This Saturday concludes the Child’s Play week of #uc_hecktober on Instagram, this month we’ve also seen Masters Classs featuring Pinhead, Michael Myers, and Jason Voorhees. If there were ever a scenario where Jason, Michael, Pinhead, and Chucky were thrown together in a blood soaked battle of horror supremacy, how do you think that story would play out and who would be the ultimate victor?

HC- “Honestly as long as Pinhead is involved I would have to say he is King. But Chucky would come in a short second. Probably by making some type of deal with Pinhead.”

MV- “well I think pinhead kinda wins the battle of survival , I mean he has figures and there is Hella cenobites to accompany him . Jason comes close 2nd though because he has multiple variations and looks to go with each movie he was in. With myers n chucky if ya got one of they're figures ya got enough of them they've really stayed the same look over the years aka they just basic b*tchies.lol”

We want to thank you all for coming down this Horror filled road of Masters Class collabs for this years #uc_hecktober themes. Masters Class will be back next week with a new month of themes that you’re not going to want to miss. 

Until next week, Class is dismissed. 

~The Curator